hi


bought my MY97 UK 215 BHP scooby on Dec 4th last year, having wanted one for ages, but now dont know if i can live with it

I new that it would have fairly stiff suspension, but its ridiculus! (sp)

I fix Pc's for a living and so need to take them to jobs etc and put them on the back seat, but if i hit a pot hole or similar i get a Massive crack/whack noise , and also it wants to pull me off the road at the same time.

Thought suspension was knaackered so put it in for an MOT and also asked to cheack susp, but i bloody passed no faults, they advised was very lowered

Question is how much would it cost to put the suspension back to normal and poss get normal 16" wheels

really bugging me but just drive it everyday with a ride like it is

James

 

Oh dear, this is why you shouldn't lower cars inteded for road use by big amounts. Maybe the original springs and dampers on it (2nd hand) or set of Eibachs? I'd give Powerstation a call and see what they recommend.

Ns04

 

Hi

I didnt lower it was done before i bought it, but when test driving it, it felt fine (well anything would handle better than an astra 1.6) so didnt question it.

There is a sticker by steering wheel saying eibach & prodrive?

 

I know you didn't do it mate! I was speaking generally. Eibach pro S and Prodrive spings are only slightly firmer than the std ones, some people say the ride is better on them. Maybe they've been cut? Or maybe the sticker is just that, a sticker, and the car is on something completely different. It's all guess work mate, get it to someone who knows what they're talking about.

NS04

 

likely prodrive lowering springs so your car has been lowered,you could swap them for standard springs etc but this will effect handling detrimentally ie same as above!
martin

 

What about suggesting a swap in the trading/selling section. You give your lower springs to someone who then gives you their standard ones. Sounds fair to me. However the car will be off the road for a while!!!!

 

I'm not convinced they are unmolested Prodrive spings mate: they don't decimate the ride, as the poster is suggesting is the case.

Ns04

 

not a bad idea, i mean im thinking of going back to the astra at the mo its that bad, otherwise will have to find out what they are,

would standard wheels (16's) make any difference in the short term as there are some on ebay for £50?

thanks guys

J

 

some you can soften buy turning a small screw thing under them might be worth a look

 

Firstly an MOT check won't identify any minor faults that affect a cars handling or ride - it only meerly tests to see if it is worn out and is safe - nothing more.

If the car is pulling you all over the place, I suggest a full geometry and alignment check - if it's had the susension height messed with, it can throw this out. Or it may have some non-factory setting which the last onwer made up to suit his needs.

Next check if your shocks are adjustable, this is a good step, you may need to get the advice off the makers on how to adjust them (maybe a sticker on the shocks of the manufactuere somewhere). If they are adjustable - most UK (i.e bad )roads dictate soft setting (from full soft to one or two clicks from soft, in my experience). Although you may get an issue with the car bottoming out (esepcailly if the springs aren't matched to the shocks), although Classic shape Scoobs have good clearance and suspension travel, so as long as it's not lowered by a stupid amount you should be ok

Tyre pressures: A few psi does make a difference (although not much). Too low pressure will give bad tramilining on some tyres though. Tyres makes also make a difference - some brands have much stiffer sidewalls than others, and do have an effect on the jigglyness (is that a word? ) of the ride.

The other issue could be it may have poly-bushes as well. These can make the ride very jiggly, combined with lowered suspension and stiffer shocks equate to a car that is more or less a complete dog to drive on a UK road (although a wet dream for a Ned ).

Scoobs do have a bit of a jiggly ride as standard, but only at slow speeds (sub 30mph). Where the ride improves the faster and harder you drive.

Hope you sort it


For what it's worth I've had the very same nightmare with a rogue mechanic and a Jag

 

Standard wheels will not make any difference.

You will need to find out if the shocks have been changed. not just the springs.

 

get a set standad shocks from ebay or breakers yard. these will give a much more comfortable ride. they are perfectly good for road use. you may even be able to the sell the lowered stuff if it is branded and not just hacksawed springs.

 

thanks again, I shall take a look at the shocks and see if i can find a make / mark / brand and then go from there, the wheels as you can see are 17's all on Yokohamas

also the car only pulls if i hit a bad camber / pothole or esp tramlines created by lorries on the A34!

 

Any use mate?

http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=485877

Ns04

 

Cars which have had an Anti-Lift Kit (ALK) fitted together with drop links will have a different steering feel to standard and may tramline noticeably. I know on some roads with "channels" created by heavy vehicles that I have to keep a firm grip of the steering wheel. Different tyres can make a difference, I now have my winter tyres fitted and they tramline noticeably less.

At the end of the day there is always a trade-off between handling and comfort. I think you need to take your car to a specialist first of all to work out exactly what you've got. Until you know this it's just guesswork what it will take to change it to something more user friendly for you.

 

I only ever been in a standard classic scoob, and thought the ride was fine, but ive only ever owned hatches like ctr etc.

 

Cheers guys, im going to book it in somewhere to find out what setup I have

Thanks

James

 

make yourself a sponge box to go on the back seat.

hey presto shockproof transportation unit !!!!!!